40th birthday help!

Mrs.Guz · October 2011

DH's 40th birthday is in a month. We were going to do a huge party for him in his hometown with all of his family. But finances are now preventing that, and I'm sick about it. I still want to do something extra special for him because he's always doing for others and never for himself. Any ideas that don't cost a whole lot of money??? I'm not talking gifts, necessarily, more like ways to celebrate him.

KT&John · October 2011

Hmm...is there something that he would love to do with friends and family but hasn't had the chance? DH wanted a Whirly Ball party for his 30th so I did it for him. It was like a kid party for big kids and he still talks about wanting to do it again.

KT&John · October 2011

Oh and a lower cost option may be finding a nice park nearby (with a fire pit would be nice if the weather is cooler) and having a big grill out for him. I don't know what your DH likes so I am listing things mine would like...maybe it will get the idea train rolling..haha

AugustaBride04 · October 2011

For my DH's 30th bday I reached out to all of his friends (high school,college friends, long time friends, family etc) and asked them to send a special message or card or gift or old pictures or whatever they wanted to me. I then compiled them all and made a big scrapbook that I wrapped and gave to him. It was really fun and a lot of OOT friends participated and sent things - even recorded messages. He loved hearing from long time friends that he doesn't get to see or hear from much. It was a great suprise and cheap and easy to do. It's no replacement for a party,but more of a sentimental gift.

smynings_bride · October 2011

For my 40th my husband completely surprised me a week before my birthday by having a bunch of my friends waiting for us at a restaurant when we arrived at a dinner that was supposed to be just us. Everyone paid for themselves but it was just so special because I'd never had a surprise party before and since it was a week before I was in total shock.

seansgirl2006 · October 2011

AugustaBride04:
For my DH's 30th bday I reached out to all of his friends (high school,college friends, long time friends, family etc) and asked them to send a special message or card or gift or old pictures or whatever they wanted to me. I then compiled them all and made a big scrapbook that I wrapped and gave to him. It was really fun and a lot of OOT friends participated and sent things - even recorded messages. He loved hearing from long time friends that he doesn't get to see or hear from much. It was a great suprise and cheap and easy to do. It's no replacement for a party,but more of a sentimental gift.

I was going to suggest something similar. A friend of mine just made a birthday scrapbook for her dad's 70th bday. It had 10 things that each member of the family loves about him and then some other pictures and things that equaled 70. Maybe you could do something like that around the number 40. I love the above idea.

maykat · October 2011

For DH's 40th birthday, we had a party with all of his friends in the Highlands. I made chocolate cupcakes and I topped them with old pictures of DH--I took them to Wolf Camera and had them shrink the old pictures down. I did baby pictures through college pictures.

Mrs.Guz · October 2011

Thanks for the ideas, Ladies! Definitely got the ball rolling!

Janimal · October 2011

We had a small gathering at our house for DH's birthday. He didn't want anything big or too much attention, so I invited close friends only. It was a dessert party. I made a few different desserts and had an ice cream cake (his favorite) and drinks, and invited people over later in the evening to drop in for dessert. We made it VERY clear, no gifts. DH said it was the perfect kind of event for him. He got to see people he liked and was touched at who chose to make time for him.

Some time ago, I gave DH a gift he was crazy about. I wrote out on 101 pieces of paper something I loved about him. From smushy romantic, to purely physical, to just funny. I put them in a basket. He opened 1 a day for 3 months and he said it made him smile every day and he looked forward to it each day. He saved all the slips of paper. Cost me nothing and oh boy was it appreciated.

And although funds are tight now - maybe give him an IOU? I mean, what is something special he wants, or wants to do? Make it a promise that he WILL get it, or that he will get to do it.

maykat · October 2011

another gift idea--which I love. My cousin gave her husband for his first father's day, an ipod engraved that said "Daddy, Dance with Me" and it was loaded with all his favorite music.

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40th birthday help!

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